COLUMBIA, Mo. – Today, University of Missouri Advancement officials announced that MU has set a single-year record for fundraising. The MU advancement team and the university community have raised a record $164.5 million in the 2013-14 fiscal year, surpassing the previous record of $160.5 million raised in 2008. With this total, MU surpassed its goal of $150 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

“We are so appreciative of the generous support of our alumni and friends,” said Tom Hiles, vice chancellor for advancement at MU. “It demonstrates their commitment to sustaining and advancing the university. The $164.5 million total is particularly notable because MU received individual $30 million gifts in each of the previous two years, one from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to the School of Journalism in fiscal year 2013 and a $30 million gift to Intercollegiate Athletics from the Kansas City Sports Trust in fiscal year 2012. This year’s largest gift, which has not been announced, is another eight-figure gift. Also, I am very appreciative of our great advancement team for their excellent, proactive work in encouraging support from our many donors. We are committed to growing our base of support as we build toward Mizzou’s next comprehensive campaign; this is a wonderful achievement. I am grateful for the leadership support of both Chancellor Deaton and Chancellor Loftin in helping us reach this historic goal.”

“Private philanthropy and fundraising are vital to the educational and research missions of the university, helping us support student scholarships and attracting and retaining top-notch teachers and researchers,” MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin said. “The MU advancement team has done a phenomenal job this year in surpassing our fundraising goals. We have set a great precedent for future fundraising as we prepare to move into our new campaign.”

“With reduced state support, the university must rely more and more on private support,” said Richard Miller, tri-chair of the One Mizzou comprehensive fundraising campaign. “In the past year, a new record has been established for single-year fundraising. This is a major accomplishment and provides much needed support for MU students, programs, facilities and faculty. As the university moves toward its next major comprehensive campaign, this record is both timely and a positive step for the future.”

The goals of the One Mizzou campaign, still in the planning stages, are to support MU’s people, programs and places with private philanthropy. Private investment in the university helps change students’ lives by funding new scholarships and academic programs; alleviate national and global challenges, such as obesity and the need for sustainable energy sources, by supporting research in MU laboratories; establish cutting-edge learning environments by funding new teaching technologies; and build MU’s endowment to provide resources for the future.